The Grandpa Channel: Grandparent Stories, Family Legacy & Life Lessons

What does it mean to be a joyful disciple as a grandpa? In this heartfelt and humorous episode, Rivers (aka Steve Harris) sits down with his longtime friend Brent Nielsen, a father of six, grandfather to 26, and world traveler with stories and wisdom to spare.

Brent shares how he and his wife Marcia have stayed deeply connected to their growing family — even while living halfway across the world. From weekly mission calls from New Zealand to car ride storytelling marathons, you'll hear powerful insights on intentional grandparenting, legacy, and faith.

They discuss:

Building on...

What does it mean to be a grandfather today — and how has that role changed over time? In this heartfelt episode of The Grandpa Channel, host Steve Harris (aka “Rivers”) welcomes legendary historian, author, and beloved grandfather Richard Lyman Bushman for a conversation filled with timeless wisdom, personal reflection, and multigenerational insight.

Now 94, Bushman shares his lived experience as a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather — and opens up about the joys, challenges, and surprises that come with growing a family legacy. Together, they explore what makes grandparenting so vital, how storytelling shapes connection, and why being fully present might be...

Bill Mansell — longtime neighbor, father, and grandfather — joins Steve (“Rivers”) on The Grandpa Channel for a beautiful conversation about what it truly means to be a grandparent in today’s world.

From growing up knowing all four of his grandparents to now becoming the “older generation” himself, Bill shares stories full of humor, heart, and hope. He talks about the value of multi-generational homes, why being a peaceful grandparent matters, and how the real gift we give grandkids is simply showing up with love and presence.

💡 You'll hear:

Why mundane moments with grandparents become magical Duration: 00:36:37

In this heartfelt and history-rich episode, Rivers (Steve Harris) interviews Kathy Nunn, a retired educator and author living in Melbourne, Australia. Kathy shares her journey from Wales to Papua New Guinea to Australia — and the beautiful creative project she completed with her grandson: co-authoring a book inspired by Welsh legends.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Kathy and her grandson co-wrote The Welsh Warrior’s Wonder

Why everyday stories from your past matter more than you think

A fascinating legend about Welsh explorers arriving in America before Columbus

How to...

This episode is your audio companion to our most popular resource:
👉 “Steal Our Best Plays: Top 10 Ways to Connect with Your Grandkids.”
These aren’t made-up theories — they’re field-tested, story-backed plays from real grandpas (and grandmas!) who’ve shared their secrets on the show.

Each “play” includes:

A clip from a real Grandpa Channel guest

A simple, repeatable action you can take

A few twists to make it your own

🧠 Whether you're a brand-new grandpa or a seasoned pro, you'll walk away with fresh ideas, deeper purpose — and probably...

Welcome back to the Grandpa Channel — where grandpas share stories, grandkids get curious, and legacy lives on.

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Rivers (Steve Harris) shares a deeply personal story — one that’s equal parts vulnerable, redemptive, and quietly powerful.

Born with a cleft lip in 1955, Steve spent years undergoing surgeries and orthodontic work. But it wasn’t until a chance encounter during his mission in Finland — with a little girl on a cold October day — that all of his mother’s teachings about gratitude came flooding in.

This episode isn’t just a story about sc...

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, we’re joined by Russ Miller — master storyteller, retired accountant, cowboy at heart, and proud grandpa.

Russ shares:

What it was like growing up as a “feral child” in rural Utah

His father’s incredible life as a world-renowned saddle maker (with clients like Robert Redford and Willie Nelson!)

What it meant to grow up around rodeos, leatherwork, and cowboy values

The legacy of “Wild Bill” Miller — his infamous saloon ride-in and connections to Butch Cassidy’s gang

The difference between real grand...

In this special episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers (Steve Harris) is joined by bestselling author and grandmother of 39 (!) Bracha Goetz to talk about a topic that changes everything: gratitude.

You’ll hear stories about:

How Rivers’ own mom instilled an “attitude of gratitude”

Bracha’s teenage search for meaning and how gratitude saved her from addiction

The surprising Jewish root of the word “gratitude”

Easy ways grandparents can nurture thankful, joyful kids (without preaching)

Plus:
📚 The children’s book that helps eliminate entitlement — without a single “lesson.”
...

Episode Title: “I Never Heard My Grandfather's Voice — Now I Know Why That Matters”
Guest: Mike Harding
Host: Steve Harris
Presented by: The Grandpa Channel

In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode, Steve sits down with his friend Mike Harding to explore what it means to be a son, a father—and one day, a grandfather.

Mike grew up never hearing the voices of his grandfathers. Raised in a large, devout, and disciplined family, Mike reflects on what was passed down, what was missing, and what he's determined not to repeat. He opens up...

Guest: Doug Wadsworth — Utah native, Navy officer, devoted grandpa/great-grandpa.

The early roots: Growing up near both sets of grandparents; linotype-operator grandpa at the Deseret News; hard-work DNA and Depression-era frugality.

Service threads: Dad’s WWII Pacific stories; Doug’s own path through OCS and commissioning; what service taught him about people, truth, and leadership.

The day everything changed: Doug’s son Dan falls through a garage ceiling—skull fractures, broken neck/back, becomes a paraplegic. The family response: immediate presence, hope, and practical faith.

Resilience in motion: Dan’s adaptive three-wheel...

In today’s episode, Rivers sits down with the unstoppable + deeply devoted Kathy Healey — a grandma who made connection her superpower.

Kathy reveals:

how being able to show up (literally) became her legacy

the insane story of holding her granddaughter’s hand through the NICU from hour one

why most grandkids aren’t asking for lectures…they’re asking to be heard

how to connect even when you live in different states

why tiny consistent gestures (like a 60¢ stamp + a handwritten card) become magic later

the #1 line K...

In today’s episode, Rivers sits down with longtime friend + retired pulmonologist Dr. Wayne Samuelson — to talk about the grandpas who shaped him, the lessons he learned while building a house side-by-side with his grandfather, and how he now shows up for his own eight grandkids.

Inside this episode:

how a Depression-era craftsman grandpa framed hard work as evidence of God’s love

why grandkids don’t need “perfection” — they need presence

the power of storytelling + shared projects

what Wayne’s dad did that made his grandkids feel deeply seen

ho...

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers talks with guest Ken Walters — a 61-year-old grandpa with 12 grandkids spread across the country. Ken shares how endurance events (Ironman, ultras, biking) taught him the power of persistence, how to stay connected with grandkids you don’t live near, and why small check-ins & little moments will always beat big gestures.

You’ll hear stories about recording messages mid-race, surprising his kids with last-minute flights, how he partners with his wife to grandparent as a team, and why he wants to be a fountain of peace in a world that feels...

In this warm, laughter-filled episode, Rivers (Steve Harris) sits down with Jen Blosil — musician, thinker, and self-proclaimed “lover of people” — to explore what makes relationships between grandparents and grandkids truly meaningful.

Jen shares stories about her three very different grandfathers: a quiet priest, a gruff smoker with a soft spot, and a good man who didn’t always show it. Through humor and honesty, she reveals the truth that love is often spelled T-I-M-E.

Together, Steve and Jen dive into:
🌿 The sacred power of presence and why showing up awkwardly is still showing up.
💛 How fai...

What does it really mean to show up as a grandparent to an autistic grandchild? In this deeply thoughtful and practical episode, Steve Harris (aka “Rivers”) talks with Jennifer Kaufman, author of Grandparenting on the Spectrum and longtime principal of an autism-focused school.

Jennifer shares insights from both her professional life and her personal experience as the grandmother of a child on the spectrum. This conversation is full of heart, wisdom, and practical tips for any grandparent—or anyone—wanting to love better.

In this episode:

How autism shaped Jennifer’s personal and profession...

Everyone’s got a flub they’ll never forget.

In this solo episode, Rivers (aka Steve Harris) shares the time he thought he was major league-bound... until he airmailed a ball into right field and watched his coach hurl a mitt into the fence.

It’s a story about confidence, embarrassment, and the kind of failures you don’t edit out—because they end up being the ones you remember.

If you’ve ever wanted to disappear after a public mistake (or you’ve had a coach throw something in your general direction), this one’s for...

What does it mean to build something that lasts—then teach your grandkids how to carry it?

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris sits down with long-time friend Steve Grigg, son of Nephi Grigg, one of the founders of Ore-Ida and the inventor of the Tater Tot. But this isn’t just a food history story. It’s a deeply personal look at family legacy preservation, the evolution of grandparent family traditions, and the quiet superpowers grandfathers pass down through the generations.

From humble beginnings during the Great Depression to building a frozen...

Guest: Jim McCrea
Host: Steve “Rivers” Harris

In this episode:
– Why some grandfathers don’t share war stories, and why Jim’s dad did
– The redemption inside a rocky childhood
– What “I am what I am” really means for today’s grandpas
– How to show up with love, not performance
– What to say when your grandchild says, “I’m scared”
– How legacy gets recorded (even with a little swearing)

*Note: Contains a few unfiltered moments and light swearing.

Mentioned:
– Planted Media Co. (video storytelling for families – tell them Rivers sent y...

Newly minted grandpa Scott Becker meets twins Jack and Iris and feels something he did not expect - not the weight of responsibility, but the joy of a new role. He calls it the moon role. Not center stage, always present. We talk long distance grandparenting that actually lands, why presence beats perfection, and how stories become the bridge when miles get in the way.

Scott also shares the family chapter that expanded fatherhood for him - welcoming Isaac, a refugee from Uganda, into their home and hearts. If you grew up without a grandfather, or you...

What do you do when doctors give you six months to live?

For Frank Malizia, a Bronx native and lifelong Yankee fan, the answer was simple: hold on to faith, fight with everything he had, and cling to the hope of seeing his grandchildren one day. Against staggering odds, Frank survived stage-4 esophageal cancer, endured years of chemo and experimental treatments, and walked away with the nickname “miracle patient.”

Now, Frank spends his days as the proud caretaker of his two grandsons, Liam and Mason. Whether it’s scaling the steps of Kensico Dam—what they cal...

What does a lasting family legacy look like in real life? In this moving conversation, Lee Crayk shares grandpa stories that model Christ-centered grandparenting: from writing letters to grandkids at graduation, to creating safety and stability for kids, to letting kids fail safely so resilience can grow. Lee opens up about coping with the loss of a parent, the mentors who redirected his path, long-distance grandparenting that still feels close, and the small, everyday choices that say “you belong.” If your heart beats for faith and family, this episode will give you simple ways to show up, speak life, and...

What makes a grandpa unforgettable? In this heartwarming episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris sits down with financial planner and devoted grandpa Dennis Bledsoe to explore the true legacy of grandparents. From passing down faith and resilience through family traditions to sharing pioneer stories that inspire gratitude, Dennis reveals how grandpas can build deep grandchildren connections that last for generations.

Discover why curiosity and listening are the real superpowers of grandfathers, how faith traditions strengthen family ties, and the surprising ways grandkids nickname, connect with, and love their Papa. This episode is packed with wisdom, laughter...

What if the moments your kids or grandkids remember most aren’t the big vacations, the perfect holidays, or the expensive gifts… but the goofy games you made up in the living room?

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris talks with Mollie Diamond about her dad, Wid — a grandpa who turned ordinary evenings into magic. From “Poison Pillow” battles to the game of “Duddo” to a pretend snow-removal business, Wid showed his family that presence over perfection creates the kind of joy that lasts for generations.

Through his playful grandpa stories, his unconditional...

What does being a good grandparent really look like? In this heartfelt episode of The Grandpa Channel, host Steve “Rivers” Harris sits down with his longtime friend Kyle Winther to explore what it means to show up for your family.

Kyle shares lessons from his 93-year-old father, the importance of being grandparents who create road trip memories, and the quiet legacy of his Norwegian grandfather. You’ll hear why being a good grandpa isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence, patience, and stories that last.

Tune in for:

How to be a good grandpa...

Grandparenting isn’t just about being there — it’s about how you show up.

In this inspiring conversation with Lee Ann Meads, our first grandma guest on The Grandpa Channel, we dive into the big and small ways grandparents leave lasting impressions. From funny names for grandparents (yes, she explains how “Bampa” stuck) to meaningful one-on-one time, Lee Ann shows us how family traditions turn into legacy.

🌟 Highlights include:

Grandpa and Grandma Camp ideas you’ll want to steal for your own family traditions.

How Lee Ann and her husband use creative teachi...

What do you learn after nearly a century of living, loving, and laughing? Stanley Lear, our oldest guest yet on The Grandpa Channel, has the answer: keep smiling.

Born in 1930, Stanley grew up during the Great Depression as the eldest of 10 children in a 20x12 tar-paper home. From delivering newspapers at age seven to serving in France during the Korean War, his stories trace a life built on resilience, family, and love.

But Stanley’s legacy isn’t just about hard work. It’s about love — 73 years of marriage to his sweetheart, raising a family rooted i...

Grief does not end love. It reorganizes it. In this Grandpa Channel episode, Dave Goates and Steve Harris talk about the grief process, the tender ways family connection endures, and the small guardian angel moments that make you pay attention. You will hear how one daughter’s 49 days reshaped a family, how a long marriage still mentors from the other side, and why recording family history in a simple life story book can steady grandkids in hard seasons.

You’ll hear

Grief observed - what helped and what still hurts

Guardian angel experiences the...

What happens when a story isn’t told? It risks disappearing — along with the wisdom, resilience, and warning it carries.

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Art Brothers joins Steve Harris (aka “Rivers”) to share grandpa stories that bridge generations. From fearless dogs and childhood memories to his mother’s harrowing survival during World War 2 and the Dutch Hunger Winter, Art paints an unforgettable picture of family resilience in the face of trauma.

You’ll hear:

Crazy World War 2 stories of Jewish families being taken to trains, the underground black market, and children hid...

What if the best mentorship doesn’t happen in classrooms or at podiums — but on bike trails, over milkshakes, and in car rides home?

In this heartfelt episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris welcomes his cousin Brian Golding for a conversation that brings mentorship and coaching to life through family connection.

Brian shares how mountain biking with his granddaughter turned into an unexpected classroom — where lessons about effort, attitude, and presence carried far beyond the trail. Along the way, he reflects on raising his own kids, the gift of unconditional love from grandparents, and why li...

The power of family connection isn’t always found in big gestures — sometimes it lives in a single question, a laugh, or the steady presence of someone who truly listens.

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers is joined by Mike Matthews, who shares the unforgettable story of his grandmother, Eileen. What began as seasonal holiday visits blossomed into a friendship when she moved in with family — and eventually inspired the “Grandma Stand” in New York City, where strangers lined up for the chance to sit and talk with her.

Eileen’s gift wasn’t giving advic...

In this inspiring episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris sits down with longtime friend and lawyer Doug Matsumori to explore the power of consistency in building strong family bonds. Doug shares stories of his Japanese-American heritage, his career, and raising seven children—while reflecting on the role of faith and family in creating a lasting legacy.

From learning how to listen and understand each child’s unique path, to discovering what it means to be a patriarch, Doug opens up about the joys and challenges of grandparenting. Together, he and his wife Michi have become pillars of f...

Why honesty is important is a question that echoes through families, schools, and communities — and in this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Jack Peck offers heartfelt answers drawn from decades as a coach, father, and grandfather of 20.

For Jack, honesty was more than a nice idea — it was the foundation of trust. He learned from his own father that integrity and morals were not negotiable, and he carried that lesson onto the football field and into his home. Whether coaching young men to believe in themselves or teaching grandkids to say “thank you,” Jack showed what integrity means in...

Fatherhood and grandparenting are more connected than we sometimes realize. In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve “Rivers” Harris sits down with his good friend and neighbor, Mark Hale, to reflect on the lessons passed down from fathers — and how they ripple forward into life as a grandparent.

Mark shares heartfelt memories of his dad, who started the iconic Hires Big H and built a life centered on family, integrity, and faith. From surprise gifts like a horse in junior high, to vacations where kids and grandkids were handed cash “just to enjoy,” his dad’s quiet acts o...

Mentorship and coaching don’t just shape athletes — they shape lives. In this heartfelt episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris sits down with Ty Yagi to remember his grandfather, Junior Yagi — a legendary baseball coach, disciplined farmer, and wisdom-filled mentor who quietly impacted generations.

From dugout talks to life advice, Junior’s style of mentorship wasn’t about shouting orders — it was about showing up, listening, and letting lessons sink in. Ty shares intimate stories about discipline, showing up for others, and how a coach’s love can reach far beyond the game. Along the way, we explore wha...

Family history lives in more than photographs — it thrives in the journals, libraries, and stories we choose to preserve. In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve “Rivers” Harris sits down with Dan Gibbons — a lawyer, judge, poet, and grandfather of 15 — to explore the art of quiet influence and the legacy of storytelling.

Dan shares the fingerprints of two very different grandfathers: one a carpenter with calloused hands and relentless work ethic, the other a judge and poet whose words reached beyond the courtroom. Their impact still echoes through Dan’s life — from the library he built by hand, to th...

Step grandparenting is more than just a role — it’s a calling to love, listen, and show up with joy, even when the bond isn’t by blood. In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Donald Wainwright opens his heart about stepping into grandfatherhood with integrity, intention, and a basement full of toys.

Raised in Baltimore by teachers who taught him accountability and character, Donald shares how those lessons became the foundation for the kind of grandfather he wanted to be. From modeling what integrity and morals look like in everyday life to teaching grandkids that even “taking a...

Life stories are more than dates and events — they’re the laughter in the kitchen, the quiet resilience of grandparents, and the simple memories that root us. In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris (aka Rivers) sits down with Ashtyn Salazar, founder of Planted Media, to talk about the beauty and urgency of recording stories before they’re lost.

Ashtyn’s journey began after the loss of her grandmother, when she realized that journals and photos couldn’t fully capture her voice, her laughter, or her storytelling spirit. Out of that regret, she launched Planted Media — a...

Family connection is more than a phrase — it’s the heartbeat of legacy. In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers (Steve Harris) sits down with longtime friend Steve Newton for a conversation that is as hilarious as it is heartfelt.

Steve shares unforgettable grandparent stories, starting with a 70-year-old beginner golfer grandpa who ended up shooting par at 86, and a WWII grandfather who swam miles at night but rarely spoke of his service. From overpaid lawn mowing jobs to handwritten war journals, these moments reveal how love and presence shape family traditions more than perfection ever coul...

Show Notes: From Tailor Shops to Shofars — A Grandfather’s Legacy of Faith, Family & Friday Nights with Gary Lapin

What do tailor shops, Friday night Shabbat dinners, and shofar-blowing have in common? They all live at the heart of Gary Lapin’s story — a longtime neighbor, father of three sons, grandfather of seven, and someone who carries forward the deep traditions of Jewish family life.

In this heartfelt conversation on The Grandpa Channel, host Steve “Rivers” Harris sits down with Gary to explore the legacy of immigrant grandparents, the sacred rituals that shaped him, and the small but powerful...

Grandfather wisdom is at the heart of this week’s episode of The Grandpa Channel. Curt Dahl joins Steve Harris (“Rivers”) to reflect on the quiet strength, faith, and work ethic that shaped his grandfather’s remarkable legacy.

Curt shares how his grandfather taught lessons not through lectures, but through presence: showing up for his family, working with discipline, and weaving faith into the everyday. These weren’t just values for his generation — they became a compass for children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren who still feel the ripple effect of his choices.

In this conversation, you’ll hear...

Grandparent stories are more than just tales from the past — they’re threads that weave families together. In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve “Rivers” Harris invites his oldest son, Brad, to the mic for a journey through laughter, lessons, and legacy.

You’ll meet two grandfathers who couldn’t be more different — yet both left unforgettable marks. Grandpa Lou, the charismatic former bank executive, had a knack for turning even a McFlurry run into comedy gold (“It’s a McFluffy, you clown!”). He loved 4th of July fireworks so much that his “Cul-de-Sac of Fire” tradition still lights u...

In this heartwarming episode of The Grandpa Channel, host Steve Harris (aka “Ritters”) welcomes his first international guest, Stephen Webster, for an inspiring conversation on long-distance grandparenting and the art of staying close when family is scattered across the globe.

Stephen shares how he and his wife bridge the miles between loved ones in Australia, New Zealand, and New York City — proving that physical distance doesn’t have to mean emotional distance. With stories that range from tech-savvy family connections to unforgettable holiday adventures, Stephen offers practical insights on how to connect with grandkids, maintain cross-generational connections, and crea...

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In this moving solo episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers unpacks one of his favorite books, Tattoos on the Heart by Greg Boyle, and a dream that reveals the truth about bearing the beams of love.

Through Pedro’s story of grief, darkness, and finding light, we discover what it really means to be a grandparent: not to fix, but to love steadily, to hold the flashlight, and to trust that the light is always stronger than the darkness.

Rivers reminds us that:

God’s love shines through quiet, consistent pres...

Why service is important is a lesson Brent Dial learned from the very beginning — watching his grandfathers, his father, and now trying to pass it on as a grandfather of 17. In this moving conversation on The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris and Brent dive into the service opportunities, messy moments, and stories that built a lasting family legacy.

One grandfather was a dog catcher and pecan farmer who always sent you home with a stray puppy. Another was a knife maker and sentimental pinochle player who sometimes cried at General Hospital. Both men embodied presence over perfection, teaching Br...

The meaning of mentorship isn’t always found in formal titles or programs. Sometimes, it’s in the quiet, unexpected presence of someone who chooses to show up.

In this deeply personal episode of The Grandpa Channel, host Rivers (Steve Harris) reflects on growing up a “grandpa orphan,” never knowing either of his grandfathers. Like many who wonder about the meaning of mentorship, he longed for the presence, advice, and affection he saw other grandkids receive.

But life had different plans. When he married, he boldly asked his wife’s grandfather — a Cubs fan with a quick wit...

The heart of a grandfather legacy isn’t found in the big speeches or the perfect life plan — it’s tucked inside the quiet moments, the quirky traditions, and the unconditional love that grandpas pass down.

In this very first episode of The Grandpa Channel, host Steve “Rivers” Harris sits down with his daughter, Abby Harris — triplet, life coach, and proud granddaughter — to remember the two men who shaped her family: Grandpa Lou and Grandpa Hank.

Grandpa Lou was the life of the party — classy yet goofy, always rooting for the underdog, and known for slipping $20 int...

Welcome to The Grandpa Channel—where legacy isn’t something you leave behind, it’s something you live right now.

This isn’t just another podcast. It’s a movement. Calling all grandfathers everywhere to show up with purpose, pass on what matters, and tell the stories only they can tell. Hosted by a Steve Harrris aka Rivers (what his grandkids call him), this trailer is your first taste of the humor, heart, and holy ground of modern grandfatherhood.

You’ve got more to give. Let’s go out with a bang, not a thud.

Subscrib...

Welcome to The Grandpa Channel—where legacy isn’t something you leave behind, it’s something you live right now.

This isn’t just another podcast. It’s a movement. Calling all grandfathers everywhere to show up with purpose, pass on what matters, and tell the stories only they can tell. Hosted by a Steve Harrris aka Rivers (what his grandkids call him), this trailer is your first taste of the humor, heart, and holy ground of modern grandfatherhood.

You’ve got more to give. Let’s go out with a bang, not a thud.

Subscrib...